By ROD AMNER Rhodes University will appeal the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) ruling that found the dismissal of two of its two employees “procedurally and substantively unfair”. The university has six weeks to file a review application to the labour court to challenge the CCMA’s decision. David Drennan, the former chief technical officer of the Rhodes Department of Zoology and Entomology, and Heidi Myburgh, a former secretary in the Rhodes Department of Computer Science, refused to comply with the university’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate policy. The CCMA awarded them R256 445 and R146 484, respectively, as compensation for…
Author: Rod Amner
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By ROXANNE PIDERIT The Piderit Highland Dance Studio has had a very successful year, with dancers achieving numerous awards at local and national competitions. This culminated in the dancers returning from the South African Highland Dancing Championships with seven trophies. They also won the Coral Trophy for winning the studio competition at the championships. We have dancers from East London, Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth. The dancers will be performing in Celtic Calling this weekend to raise funds towards next year’s South African Championships. The Makhanda show will be held at 3 pm at the Princess Alice hall on Sunday, 4 December.…
By ROD AMNER Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do. Psalm 1:1-6 Last week, Archbishop Nkosinathi Ngesi of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church of Southern Africa, and prominent member of the Makhanda Legends, quoted…
By ROD AMNER The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has ruled that Rhodes University’s dismissal of two employees for refusing to comply with its university’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate policy was “procedurally and substantively unfair”. David Drennan, the former chief technical officer of the Rhodes Department of Zoology and Entomology, and Heidi Myburgh, a former secretary in the Rhodes Department of Computer Science, were awarded seven and nine months’ salary, respectively, as compensation. CCMA Commissioner Francois du Toit ruled the dismissals were unfair because: the university failed to notify the employees of their constitutional right to refuse the vaccination…
Jim Cambray reported 19.1mm of rain at Park Road for 24 to 30 November, while Paul Maylam recorded 14.1mm in Cathcart Street. “One nice thunderstorm delivered 16mm of the 19.1mm total,” Cambray said. Total rainfall for November was a disappointing 64.6mm, once again well below the long-term average of 81.5 mm but close to the median of 66.2mm. “Hopefully, a few good thunderstorms in December will bring the rains we need,” Cambray added. Temperatures for the week ranged from 14 degrees Celcius to 36C – summer has arrived!
By CHARLIE SHACKLETON, ANDREW FAULL, GREGORY BREETZKE, IAN EDELSTEIN and ZANDER VENTER South Africa’s population is urbanising at a rapid pace. The sheer rate of change poses challenges to planning sustainable and liveable cities. Part of what makes cities work is having green spaces, such as parks, sports fields, nature trails and street trees. These provide many social, ecological and economic benefits. Research from multiple countries such as Australia, China, Finland, India, the US and South Africa has shown this. Aside from looking good and providing recreation, urban green spaces improve air quality and physical and mental health and regulate stormwater flows. They counteract…
The Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) wrapped up its 50th-anniversary celebrations and awards last week. JMS awarded the final 24 of its 50 most illustrious graduates over three celebrations hosted at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. The three functions comprised a legacy luncheon and two dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Other alumni were previously awarded during the Rhodes University April graduation in Cape Town and Durban, with overseas alumni awarded virtually. Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, said: “As we celebrate our alumni who have served the profession of journalism with great distinction, we must appreciate…
By ANDREW MARTIN The recently-formed Makhanda Chess Club fought hard for third place in the seven-team A section of a chess tournament held in Jeffrey’s Bay on 19 November. The tournament attracted teams from Jeffrey’s Bay, Gqeberha, Uitenhage, and Makhanda. The playing floor at the chess tournament in Jeffrey’s Bay. Photo: supplied Youth Chess Academy finished first, with the Jeffrey’s Bay A side placing second. The Makhanda team – including Andrew Martin, Jabulani Ndaba, Jeremiah Sewelo and Cuan Kruger – won four matches, drew one and lost one. Martin collected most of the points for the team, with 4.5 points…
By STAFF REPORTER At least 50 stakeholders heeded the call to come together at Makana Municipality Council Chambers to participate in the inaugural Safety and Security Indaba on Monday, 28 November, in anticipation of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide campaign. The Indaba touched on fighting GBV, the allocation of vehicles for police, the decline of trust in the police in the community, the role of community crime-fighting groups, and the rise of vigilantism. This session, led by the Sarah Baartman Department of Community Safety, was attended by the National Prosecuting Authority, station commanders…
By the RHODES UNIVERSITY LAW CLINIC Domestic violence is defined in the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 as physical, verbal, emotional, psychological or economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, entry into the complainant’s residence without consent (when they do not live together), or any other controlling abusive behaviour towards the complainant, where such conduct harms, or may cause imminent harm to the safety and well-being of the complainant. South Africa has one of the world’s highest incidences of domestic violence. Every day women are murdered, physically and sexually abused, threatened and humiliated by their partners. It is not…